Memphis 901 FC take on Las Vegas Lights FC in the 2024 USL Championship opener at AutoZone Park on Saturday evening.
After spending their first five seasons in the USL Championship Eastern Conference, Memphis 901 will now be plying trade in the Western Conference for the 2024 season as the league restructured with the arrival of North Carolina and Rhode Island.
Las Vegas, who finished with the fewest wins in the league but not the fewest points, were acquired in January by six-time Major League Baseball All-Star José Bautista, who has completely overhauled the club from top to bottom.
Here GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
Memphis 901 FC vs Las Vegas Lights FC kick-off time
| Date: | Saturday, March 9, 2024 |
| Kick-off time: | 4:00pm ET/ 1:00pm PT |
| Venue: | AutoZone Park |
The USL Championship match between Memphis 901 and Las Vegas Lights will be played at the AutoZone Park on Saturday, March 9, 2024, with kick-off at 4:00pm ET for fans in the US.
How to watch Memphis 901 FC vs Las Vegas Lights FC online - TV channels & live streams
 | ESPN+ | Watch here |
The match will be shown live onESPN+ in the US.
How to watch anywhere with VPN
If you are abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out GOAL's guide to the best VPNs for streaming sport.
Team news & squads
Memphis 901 FC team news
Memphis will be without some of their key players from the past two seasons, with both All-League midfielder Aaron Molloy and Graham Smith joining the Charleston Battery, Rodrigo Da Costa jumping to North Carolina, and Jeremy Kelly heading to England.
That has left Head Coach Stephen Glass with some rebuilding to do, but the pieces the club has brought in have the sort of pedigree that can keep 901 FC competitive.
Neco Brett arrives to lead the forward line, while 23-year-old Australian defensive midfielder Zach Duncan will add some bite in the center of the park.
They have also added Cissoko from Tacoma Defiance after he earned MLS NEXT Pro Best XI honors while making only 16 appearances, while returnees like youngster Nighte Pickering will also be expected to take another step forward.
Memphis 901 possible XI: Deric; Ward, Turci, Cissoko, Jimenez; Duncan, Hyndman; Marlon, Lapa, Pickering; Brett.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Sánchez, Deric |
| Defenders: | Cissoko, Yacoubou, Ward, Peters, Jimenez, Turci |
| Midfielders: | Hyndman, Duncan, Lapa, Paul |
| Forwards: | Brett, Marlon, Dally, Murphy, Pickering |
Las Vegas Lights FC team news
It has been another year of wholesale changes in the Las Vegas Lights' roster, but this time there seems to be a strategy in place. They brought veteran midfielder Charlie Adams from FC Tulsa as their first new arrival and then acquired Dominican Republic playmaker Edison Azcona in a loan-to-buy deal. They also signed NCAA College Cup winner Shawn Smart of Clemson.
Other veteran names in the squad include two-time Championship Player of the Year Solomon Asante and former title-winning center backs Fabien Garcia and Emrah Klimenta.
Las Vegas possible XI: Ammeter; Hafferty, Klimenta, Garcia, Smart; Adams, Gyau; Asante, Azcona, Pinzon; Alba.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers: | Ammeter |
| Defenders: | Sargis, Garcia, Klimenta, Hafferty, Smart |
| Midfielders: | Gyau, Ledesma, Carleton, Pinzón, González, Rayyan, Adams, Gannon |
| Forwards: | Azcona, Asanté, Alba |
Head-to-Head Record
| Date | Match | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 23/06/24 | Las Vegas Lights 0-0 Memphis 901 FC | USL Championship |
| 10/03/24 | Memphis 901 FC 2-2 Las Vegas Lights | USL Championship |
| 27/03/22 | Las Vegas Lights 0-1 Memphis 901 FC | USL Championship |